“I gave my hundred percent” Aditi Ashok shares disappointment on missing bronze by a whisker
Anilava Chatterjee, Tokyo: India’s Aditi Ashok came tantalizingly close to winning bronze for the country in women’s golf event at Kasumigaseki Country Club on Saturday. She finished 15 under par, one score behind New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and Japan’s Inami Mone. Nelly Korda of USA won gold.
“Today I didn’t perform very well. I found it hard to get birdie par. It is tough to hit greens when you are not on the fairway. So that was definitely the hardest part to score. But yes, I didn’t leave anything out there as I gave my hundred percent”, said a dejected looking Aditi while talking to the media persons at the Kasumigaseki Country Club.
The golfer from Bengaluru was in the race to win medal until the 18th hole. On being asked what was going in her mind at the last hole, Aditi said, “Not much actually. I got it really good. I hit the fairway finally and then I had a good club in. It was a good number too. It was then that I realized that I had a chance to make a birdie. I pulled it a hair left also because there was a bunker on the right. But still I gave myself a birdie putt. I gave my best. It’s hard to force the issue when you are 30 feet away.”
Aditi now joins a club of Indian sportspersons who were very close to winning a medal for the country at the Olympics. She joined the legendary Milkha Singh, PT Usha, Abhinav Bindra, Dipa Karmakar, Jaydeep Karmakar along with Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza.
“No I didn’t know that. You don’t want to join that club (laughs). Even a top 4-5 in Olympics for me is good because you know that person had a medal chance. Even if it is not a podium finish, it will maybe bring an eye to the sport. It will generate more interest in the sport. More kids will pick up golf. That helps grow the game,” Aditi said.
Aditi was superb on the green, with her chip shots and putting. It was crucial to miss the fairway on the 15th hole.
“I was just scrambling. I don’t think it was that bad as I made par. Yes, I missed the fairway so it was a bit catching up to do.”
Entire India was glued to their TV sets watching her event from 3 am today. On being asked what her emotions was going into the round 4, Aditi said, “I didn’t think about it too much. Obviously coming in I tried my best. Regular events if you finish 2nd or 4th it doesn’t matter but this was Olympics. You need to be in the top three. I didn’t leave anything out there as I gave my hundred percent.”
Lastly, Aditi hoped that her performance will inspire more young kids to take up the sport.
“When I started golf I never dreamt of competing at the Olympics. Golf was not even an Olympic sport then. Sometimes you just pick it up and work hard everyday for fun and end up being here,” signed off Aditi Ashok.
